No need to be embarrassed, it happens to all of us eventually, and it’s more common than you think.
Whether it’s an infection or an allergy, an itchy vagina doesn’t always mean the worst. First of all, what may irritate your friend, may not bother you whatsoever — all bodies are different and no two vaginas are created the same.
Just because you are experiencing vaginal itching does not mean that you are unhealthy or that something is seriously wrong. Before losing your mind and choosing WebMD over logic, look closely at your relationship with your vagina and look at the possible reasons for itching or irritation. Do you use a specific lotion after you shower? Do you shave with a dull razor? How about your underwear — are you more into synthetic materials or cotton? Your answer may be much easier than you may have originally thought and it could be lurking in your medicine cabinet, bedroom drawers, or in the shower.
Whatever the case, don’t be embarrassed to talk it over with your gynecologist or physician — they’ve seen far worse, trust me — or explore the possible options listed below.
Tight Underwear is Not Your Friend
As a advocate for going commando, I hate tight underwear, and I hate it even more so for contributing to in grown hairs and yeast infections. Because the skin around the vagina is thinner than the rest of your body, make sure that you a purchasing the right sized underwear. The tightness of the underwear can create a friction between your legs and can also heat up the area, leading to a breeding ground for bacteria.
Choose underwear that is breathable, like cotton, to avoid further infections.
Allergies to Synthetic Items
Contact dermatitis can be the result of several allergies, such as perfumes or additives found in lubricants, lotion, soaps, or laundry detergents. The best way to avoid irritation from products is to only use hypoallergenic products that avoid chemicals.
An additional tip: let your vagina breathe every now and then — sleep naked.
Shaving or Waxing
The skin near the vagina is very delicate and thin and pubic hair leads to more protection and acts as a cushion from bacteria or irritation during sex.
Shaving has a reputation of causing break outs and irritation and what you put on the shaven area afterwards may have an impact as well. Like any part of the body, shaving creates dryness and razor burn which results in itching. Shaving or waxing can also cause tiny tears and the process could possibly lead to an infection, causing more itching. The tears can become an area for bacteria to thrive and hair follicles can become infected.
Empty Your Bladder After Intercourse
I know you may not think it’s cute or attractive to jump up from bed and go pee in the bathroom after sex but hey, does your partner care about your vaginal health? Then pee away, my friend, pee away.
Yeast infections can cause itching, burning, and foul discharge and a UTI can cause burning during urination — together, they are an unbearable force. Peeing at least 45 minutes after sex flushes out all of the bacteria that could potentially settle in your bladder and cause a UTI. Yeast infections are caused by a bacterial imbalance that can be caused from lubricants, antibiotics, birth control, or vaginal sex. Yeast accumulates in warm and moist areas, so make sure you wipe yourself thoroughly.
If you are experiencing any significant changes in your vaginal health and have issues with itching, there are plenty of natural and alternative methods to explore. Try drinking coconut milk, staying hydrated for your all around well being, and paying attention to the needs of your vagina’s health.
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